Are you looking for new ways to keep your children engaged, active and healthy?

Would you like them to develop key skills, such as leadership, teamwork and cultural awareness at the same time?

Welcome to our pool-based snorkelling, freediving and scuba diving activity programmes in Leicester, UK! All of these adventures are specifically designed for children aged between 6 – 12 years!​ Go underwater and discover the wonder of Snorkel, Scuba, Mermaid, and Freediving Explorer programmes. SSI Explorers is a fantastic way to combine education, fun, friendship and a lifetime of adventure! ​

The Explorers programme has been designed specifically to welcome children into the aquatic world through different experiences and introducing them to a lifetime of adventure, while learning valuable life skills. The programme teaches children the knowledge and tools required to explore our underwater world safely and responsibly, while encouraging them to have as much fun as possible.

Explorers is exclusively pool-based but builds foundational knowledge and experience that can be easily applied to Open Water Diver programme, once the child reaches 10 years old.

The SSI Explorers program allows children starting at age six to go underwater and sample the different ways they can explore the aquatic world around them. Each child will gain a solid foundation in ocean conservation and have the opportunity to experience different aquatic adventures, including snorkelling, scuba diving, freediving, and swimming like a mermaid.

As the children progress, SSI Explorers will keep them engaged and expand their knowledge with specialty courses like marine mammal ecology, underwater photography, and 20 others.

The programme is designed to keep children active, while teaching them to reach their goals through hard work, commitment, and fun. Key life skills such as self confidence, responsibility, leadership, discipline and self-esteem are all developed through the programme.

And… the best bit is that Explorers is not just a one-off course!

Explorers have the opportunity to enrol in ongoing pool sessions and continue their learning. They are encouraged to attend club meetings, where they can practice their skills in the pool, be involved in activities and socialise with other Explorers. This helps to nurture their interest, keeps them engaged in a healthy activity and develops a young community of ocean lovers to lead, educate and inspire future generations about the importance of the ocean environment.

SSI Explorers takes kid’s diving to a whole new level. Combined with the guidance and supervision of qualified SSI Explorers Instructors, this programme includes a comprehensive printed Explorers manual to help your child learn the knowledge and skills they need to safely participate in snorkelling, mermaid, freediving, and scuba in a pool or confined water environment. The manual is very engaging, with colourful cartoon drawings and authentic ocean images for this young audience.

Join Emma and Nico on exciting underwater adventures as they guide your children through the educational content in a fun and engaging way, using Spike the shark as their equipment expert and Shelly the sea turtle as the ocean environment champion.

Just like adult divers or freedivers, specialty training builds on the foundational skills to develop new skills, knowledge and experience in particular areas.

Participants who have completed at least the Snorkel Explorer programme may complete the following specialty experiences:

• Boat Explorer
• Navigation Explorer
• Night and Limited Visibility Explorer
• Photo and Video Explorer
• Rescue Explorer
• Scooter/DPV Explorer
• Underwater Communication Explorer
• Underwater Model Explorer
• Ecology Explorer

Participants who have completed the Freediving Explorer* programme may complete the following specialty experiences:

• Monofin Explorer
• No-Fins Explorer

Participants who have completed the Scuba Explorer programme may complete the following specialty experiences:

• Enriched Air Nitrox Explorer
• Perfect Buoyancy Explorer
• Search and Recovery Explorer

*Freediving Explorer Programme coming soon to Scuba 2000.

And… just like for adults, ratings can be earned:

Once the child reaches the age of 10, they have the opportunity to immediately progress to the Junior Open Water Diver programme. Having learned most of the skills and gained confidence as an Explorer, the transition to Junior Open Water Diver is seamless and typically, makes them a truly exceptional diver for their age!

The Basic Freediving programme is also available to children from 10 years and the Freediving Level 1 from 12 years.

From there, they will be able to explore the wild oceans all around the world – there really is no limit to what they can achieve and with 71% of the planet’s surface covered with water, there’s more than enough to keep them engaged for a lifetime!

Here is why you should choose us.

Please get in touch to discuss options and availability.

After completion of the Snorkel Explorer and Scuba Explorer, children can build their skills, knowledge and experience through specialty training. Each specialty costs £50 and comprises 1 pool session (including all equipment, tuition and insurance), education materials, recognition card and laminated certificate.

We don’t like hidden costs either. Everything that you need is included for our Explorer programmes. While we include the use of all equipment, some people wish to purchase personal items for comfort, style and hygiene reasons.

Join our Explorers club for ongoing activities, in and out of the water! From beach clean-ups to ocean ecology to fun parties, the Explorers club is a great way to keep your child engaged in fun, healthy, inspirational and educational activities.

Please contact us to check availability and book your experience.

Does my child need to be able to swim? 

Yes, they must be able to swim 12 metres and be comfortable in the water.

What do we need to bring?

For pool sessions, you just need swimwear, towel and an optional t-shirt of rash vest. We supply all other equipment. If you wish to purchase your own mask, snorkel, fins, suit etc., we can help you but this is not mandatory.

Do parents need to be present?

Parents do not need to be in the water but must remain onsite during water activities.

Where are you located?

We use the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Leisure Centre in Leicester City Centre, for all our Explorer pool training. Land-based activities and excursions will be discussed with you, should they apply.